Ten Thousand Trees

The 12 Most Magnificent Trees in the World

2008-06-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a similar blog post about 10 Magnificent trees that has been widely propagated around the blogsphere I decided to put together my own list of great trees of renown that I believe is more accurate than the above mentioned post. I had a hard time keeping the list to ten and ended up expanding it to twelve with some runner-up trees by category. At the end of the post I also mention some more truly great trees that did not make the list.

Largest tree by Volume - General Sherman (Giant Sequoia)

General Sherman, originally uploaded by blueph0enix.

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree by volume in the world and one of the fastest growing. It belongs to the species Sequoiadendron giganteum.

Sequoiadendron giganteum
Volume of trunk 52,500 cu. ft. (1,486.6 cu.m.)
runner-up General Grant tree

Tallest tree - Hyperion (Coastal Redwood)

Coastal Redwood Portrait, originally uploaded by KbH.

The Coastal Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens) is the tallest tree species in the world. The tallest actual tree is the Hyperion tree which stands at 379 feet tall. Another Tall Coastal Redwood is the Stratosphere Giant at 112 meters.

Largest Spread - The Great Banyan (Bengal Fig)

Great banyan tree, originally uploaded by YamezA.

a sign by this tree reads...

"The Great Banyan Tree is one of the greatest attractions and landmark of Indian Botanic Garden. The tree, Ficus Benghalensis-L. (family Moraceae) is more than 250 years old and spreaded over an area of about 1.5 hectares with about 2880 proproots.
A wonder in the plant kingdom, the tree occupies its possition in the "Guinness Book of World Records" 21.02.05"

The Great Banyan Tree, originally uploaded by Joe Gratz.

Although the main trunk of the is tree was removed in 1925 it continues to grow outward and has spread past the fence that was built around it. The highest branch is 24.5 meters tall and the canopy extends over 420 meters in diameter.

Great Banyan at Calcutta
Ficus Benghalensis-L
spread - 3.7 acres (1.5 hectares) with 2880 prop roots
Sai-ngam banyan tree in Thailand

Oldest Individual tree - Methuselah (Bristlecone Pine)

Two ancient bristlecone pines
Originally uploaded by jb18

Methuselah tree
Pinus longaeva
age 4,840 years
(the Jomon Sugi tree has been reported to be older (7,200 years) but more conservative estimates date it at 2,200 years old)

Largest Girth - Árbol del Tule (Montezuma Cypress)

El Arbol de Tule
Originally uploaded by akseabird

The "Arbol del Tule", a Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum), is claimed to be the tree with the largest diameter in the world. At 11.62 meters its diameter is greater than that of the largest Sequoia tree. The Tule tree is located in Oaxaca, Mexico and is claimed to locals to be the largest tree in the world (by volume and tonnage) although this claim is not scientifically proven. None the less it is a very impressive tree!

11.62 meters in diameter
circumference of 36.2 m

Greatest Baobab - Sunland Baobab (Adansonia digitata)

The Sunland Baobab of Limpopo, South Africa

"Big Baobab Tree (Adansonia digitata): This giant and ancient baobab at the Sunland Nursery, between Duiwelskloof and Ga-Kgapane, is the biggest specimen in the world. It has a circumference of 46,8m and carbon dating has determined its age at an astronomical 6000 years." from http://www.places.co.za/html/tzaneen.html

"When baobabs become a thousand years old, they begin to hollow inside. In the Big Baobab this has resulted in wonderful caverns and caves, where the world famous Baobab Tree Bar and Wine Cellar now amaze visitors. The tree bar can accommodate more than 60 people!"
from http://www.bigbaobab.co.za/

see also...
http://arbresvenerables.free.fr/ArbresVenerables/South%20Africa.htm

runner-up - Chapman´s Baobab

photograph courtesy Philip Greenspun

In Botswana´s Kalarari Desert near the Makgadikgadi Pans (once a very immense inland lake in Africa) is a very large tree that goes by the name “Chapman´s Baobab”. In was named by a South African explorer by the name of James Chapman in 1861 when he was on an expedition with his brother and Thomas Baines. This tree is about 25 meters in circumference at its base (Baobab trees swell with water when it rains which makes trunk measurements difficult as they very from season to season). From what I have found I think that this is the second largest Baobab after the “Sunland Baobab in Limpopo which has a circumference of 46.8 meters.The tree is reputed to be between 4,000 and 6,000 years old.

here is the same tree from another angle...

old baobab tree by redandgrey

Tallest Flowering Tree - Centurion (Mountain Ash)

Largest and oldest clonal colony - Pando Quacking Aspen

The Pando tree is a "clonal colony" which means that this whole grove is one living organism that sends up multiple "stems". Each of what we would consider one "tree" is just a part of this giant living organism. These individual "stems" sprout grow to maturity and eventually age and die and fall over but the organism that they are a part of lives on. The largest known clonal colony is this forest of quacking aspens in Colorado that is estimated to have 40,000 stems and to be as old as 80,000 years.

Populus tremuloides
107 acres (43 hectares) and approx 47,000 stems
(Clonal colonies are groupings of "trees" (in reality stems) that are all part of a single living organism)

Most Revered tree - Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Fig Bo, Bodhi, Pipal)

Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura, originally uploaded by get down.

Sri Maha Bodhi (Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka)
Ficus religiosa
Propagated from the Bodhi tree
A descendant of the tree under which Buddha is thought to have received his enlightenment.

Most Resistant tree - "The Tree of Life"

The famous Tree of Life, originally uploaded by solvo.

Out in the middle of a vast desert in Bahrain there stands a tree that is popularly called the "Tree of Life". It is a solitary splash of green in a vast ocean of sand. It is believed to be a 400 year old "Mesquite"(??) tree and is located about 2 kilometers from Jebel Dukhan. According to local legend this tree stands in the exact spot of the Biblical garden of eden.

Here is a picture of this tree as seen from Space...

The Tree of Life (Bahrain)
Located out in the desert 1.2 miles (two kilometers) from the Jebel Dukhan
Source of water unknown

Most Important in History - Cedar of Lebanon

A cedar of Lebanon, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

This large Lebanese cedar tree stands on Mount Lebanon and is a fine example of the tree that is the symbol and pride of the country. This tree species (Cedrus Libani) should not be confused however with what are commonly called “Cedar” trees in the United States. The Cedars of Lebanon have been trees of renown for thousands of years. The wood of this tree was used by Solomon in the construction of the temple that he built in Jerusalem.

Cedars of Lebanon
Cedrus libani
Mentioned in many ancient texts such as the Bible and the Koran
Important to many ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians, Egyptians, Hebrews, Arabs etc.

Greatest "Living Fossil" tree - Dragon tree

The dragon tree at Icod, originally uploaded by 126 Club.

I had the good fortune to be able to visit this increadible tree back in 1994. They say that this tree (Draceana draco) is over 1000 years old. It is located in the Canary Islands, on the Island of Tenerife in the town of Icod. These Dragon trees (sometimes called Dragon's blood trees for the red color of their sap) grow wild only in the Canary Islands but have been planted in many other places such as California, Australia, Spain, etc. (in places where the temps don't go sub freezing).

El Drago Milenari (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spanish Canary Islands)
Dracaena draco
over 1000 years old

More trees of renown...
Garden of Gethsemane Olive trees
Fortingall Yew
Tane Mahuta
Te Matua Ngahere
Grandidier's Baobab
Giant Java Willow
Meiji Shrine Wishing tree

Muir Woods Sequoia trees - California

2008-05-05T09:03:00.001-07:00

IMG_7091, originally uploaded by Jared Zimmerman.

The Muir woods is a stand of ancient Sequoia trees located just north of San Fransisco in California. It is probably the Sequoia area that is closest to a major urban center.

It is also a place were you can go to practice your "First Amendment" rights! I´ll bet you did not know that there were only select places such as this were you are free to practice your constitutional rights (as a US citizen that is). Hmm, I wonder who thought up this sign?

1st Amendment Over Here, originally uploaded by Lance McCord.

Old Spruce trees in Sweden

2008-04-13T00:25:00.001-07:00

Young and Old, originally uploaded by tomhe.

Researchers in Sweden have discovered group of old Spruce trees in dalarna with an 5,000-8,000 year old root system (clonal colony). While the individual Spruce trees may only be only several hundred years old the root system they are "sprouting" up from lives on. Original story found at...

http://www.thelocal.se/11054.html

Tallest Coastal Redwood in England

2008-03-29T13:02:00.001-07:00

Sequoia, originally uploaded by 4StringsGood.

This Coastal Redwood tree was planted in 1859 and is more than 50 meters tall. It is located in the New Forest of Rhinefield.

Coastal Redwood - Tallest trees in the world

2008-03-29T06:19:00.001-07:00

Coastal Redwood Portrait, originally uploaded by KbH.

Big Sitka Spruce in the Hoh Rain Forest

2008-03-27T08:32:00.001-07:00

Big Sitka Spruce, originally uploaded by Robert Whitlock.

Rain Forest Monarch

The temperate rain forest is dominated by Sitka spruce, Except where it penetrates valleys such as the Hoh, the Sitka grows along a narrow coastal strip from northern California to Alaska.

High rainfall, fog, and ocean-moderated temperatures create optimum growing conditions for these monarchs. This is one of the largest Sitka spurce trees in the United States.

Height over 270 feet
Diameter at breast height over 12 ½ feet
Age 500 to 550 years

At dawn and dust be alert for elk crossing the road.

***************************************************

The Hoh Rain Forest is located in the Olympic National Forest of Western Washington

Pando tree - Aspen clonal colony

2008-03-27T08:12:00.001-07:00

The Eik Cedar.

2008-03-27T08:06:00.001-07:00

Eik Cedar., originally uploaded by gak.

This 800 year old tree is a popular attraction in the small town of Tofino on the west side of Vancouver Island. Local residents and arborists have rigged a series of cables and supports to keep the tree standing. I´ve been unable to determine if this tree is a Western Red Cedar or a Port Orford Cedar.

Grandidier's Baobab - Adansonia grandidieri

2008-03-21T14:35:00.001-07:00

Morondava, originally uploaded by Rita Willaert.

Grandidier's Baobab is one of only eight species of Baobabs in the world. Of these eight, six are found only in Madagascar, one in Africa and one in Australia. The Grandidier Baobab is the largest and tallest of the Madagascar Baobabs.

Buddha head in a tree at Wat Mahatat, Ayutthaya

2008-03-14T22:46:00.001-07:00

Wat Mahatat, Ayutthaya, originally uploaded by Zimmelino.

This tree is famous not in and of itself but rather for the Buddha's head that is rather firmly lodged in it's tangled roots. It is told that in 1767 the Burmese attacked and destroyed Ayatthuya. In the process they chopped of the heads of all of the Buddha statues. This particular head must have fallen among the prop roots of a bodhi tree. Over the centuries the roots have grown around the head in such a way that almost seems intentional.

Buddha head in tree, Wat Mahatat, Ayutthaya, originally uploaded by dhess.

Cucumber tree

2008-03-14T22:29:00.001-07:00

Dave lending a sense of scale, originally uploaded by TATTERH00D.

Magnolia Acuminata

Commonly called
“Cucumber tree”

One legend says that Thomas Shore, the owner of violet bank, planted this tree from a slip given to him by Thomas Jefferson.

General Robert E. Lee was camped here on the morning of July 30, 1864 and heard the explosion of the crater.

(from a sign near the tree)

The legend., originally uploaded by TATTERH00D.

The Late Lone Tree of Tenere

2008-02-22T15:22:00.001-08:00

tree_of_tenere_1, originally uploaded by Alihodza.

"The Tree of Ténéré, was a solitary acacia, of either Acacia raddiana or Acacia tortilus, that was once considered the most isolated tree on Earth — the only one within more than 400 km. It was a landmark on caravan routes through the Ténéré region of the Sahara in northeast Niger — so well known that it is the only tree to be shown on a map at a scale of 1:4,000,000...It was the last surviving tree of a group of trees that grew when the desert was less parched than it is today. The tree had stood alone for decades. During the winter of 1938–1939 a well was dug near the tree and it was found that the roots of the tree reached the water table 33–36 meters below the surface."

from wikipedia.org/

The George Bush Sequoia Tree

2008-02-22T11:22:00.001-08:00

CIMG0775.JPG, originally uploaded by alonzoD.

An engraving at this tree reads….

“This giant sequoia tree is designated the George Bush Tree in celebration of the President´s action at this site on July 14, 1992 to manage Giant Sequoia in perpetuity as unique objects of beauty and antiquity for the benefit and inspiration of all people.”
Sequoia National Forest

CIMG0774.JPG, originally uploaded by alonzoD.

This tree is located along the Freeman Creek Trail that cuts through Freeman Creek Grove. This grove is part of the Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountians. It is a wilderness area of Sequoia´s that have never been logged. The area is popular with mountainbikers.

The George Bush referred to here is George Herbert Walker Bush (b.1924) not George Walker Bush (b. 1946) the current president of the United States of America.

Largest Baobab in the world

2008-02-22T04:03:00.000-08:00

Chapman´s Baobab - botswana

2008-02-21T10:09:00.000-08:00

photograph courtesy Philip Greenspun

The tree is reputed to be between 4,000 and 6,000 years old.

here is the same tree from another angle...

old baobab tree by redandgrey

Monkey Puzzle tree at Chatsworth House

2008-02-19T14:33:00.001-08:00

ch_20070823_01363, originally uploaded by chocoadicta.

Located on the grounds of a large famouns English country house is a large Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana). The estate, located in Derbyshire, is called Chatsworth House and is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. One of this house´s many claims to fame is that it was used as “Pemberley” in the 2005 film version of Jane Austen´s Pride and Prejudice. This Monkey tree can be found along a path just east of the maze and west of Morton pond. Use the map as at this link to find this great tree.

The "Big Tree" in Goose Island State Park

2008-02-19T08:25:00.001-08:00

the Big Tree originally uploaded by Broken Piggy Bank

The "Big Tree" at Goose Island State Park was named the State Champion Coastal Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) in 1969, and is thought to be one of the largest in the nation.

Trunk Circumference: 35 feet 1 and 3/4 inches or 10.71 meters
Average Trunk Diameter: 11 feet 2 and 1/4 inch or 3.41 meters
Crown Spread: 89 feet or 27.1 meters
Height: 44 feet or 13.4 meters
Age: In excess of 1,000 years

info found in...
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/goose_island/big_tree.phtml

The Sai Gnam Banyan tree

2008-02-18T12:43:00.001-08:00

Twisty!, originally uploaded by g-hat.

Outside of Phimai, Thailand's is one of the oldest and largest Banyan trees in Southeast Asia. It is called "Sai Ngam" which means beautiful Banyan.

There are numerous fortune tellers and vendors that work in the tree as if it was a great bit covered market. You can purchase fish or eels to release in order to give you good fortune and prosperity. This sacred tree is one of the more popular attractions in the area.

Blessed mangrove, originally uploaded by 10b travelling.

Giant Java Willow Tree

2008-02-18T08:20:00.001-08:00

Java Tree, originally uploaded by Undercover Nerd.

This is the Giant Java Fig tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Peradeniya, south east of Kandy, Sri Lanka.

A sign at the base of this tree reads...

(Java Fig) (Moraceae)
species - Ficus Benjamina
This is a large handsome tree indigenous to Malayasia and introcuded to Sri Lanka in 1861. The specimen here is over 100 years old and has spread over an area of about 2420 sq. meters.

Enormous fig tree, Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Sri Lanka, originally uploaded by Paul Mannix.

Banyan tree - Maui, Hawaii

2008-02-18T07:54:00.001-08:00

Maui - The Road to Hana - return journey, originally uploaded by Gypsy and The Fool.

Banyan tree at the Haleakala National Park Kipahulu Headquarters - Oheo Gulch & Seven Sacred Pools

The Joshua Tree

2008-02-17T07:35:00.001-08:00

Joshua Tree, originally uploaded by yathin.

Species name - Yucca brevifolia

Location – Southwestern United States (Southern California and Arizona)

Max. age - up to 250 years.

Max. height 15 meters

rock trees bike, originally uploaded by Katherine H.

Joshua Tree National park named after this tree. Within the park the Mojave desert is the prime habitat of the Joshua tree. Pollinated by the Yucca moth which lays its eggs in the trees flower.

These trees were made famous by the fact that the rock gr0up "U2" named one of their best selling albums after them (The Joshua Tree). On the sleeve of the album was a picture of a Joshua tree that became a popular tree to visit as a result. It can no longer be visited however as it fell over and died some years back (2000?)

Joshua Tree Full Bloom from Zoom, originally uploaded by cobalt123.

The name “Joshua tree” was given by Mormon settlers who likened the trees branches to a Biblical story of Joshua’s arms being raised to keep the sun from setting so that a battle could be won during the daylight.

The Cahuilla Native Americans use this tree for as a source of material for crafts and also as a source of food from the seeds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_tree

Joshua Tree Branch, originally uploaded by john w.

General Grant Tree - The US National Christmas tree

2008-02-16T02:04:00.001-08:00

Nations Xmas Tree General Grant, originally uploaded by papa rotzi.

The General Grant tree is the third largest tree in the world and the second largest of the Giant Sequoias.

In 1867 it was names after General Ulysses S. Grant who later became the 18th President of the United States.

In 1962 US President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed this tree the “National Christmas Tree”.

In 1956 US President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the tree the designation of “National Shrine” as a memorial to all those lost in war.

Height 81 meters
Diameter 8.85 meters
Circumference at base 32.8 meters
Estimated age 1,650 years
Volume 47,850 cubic feet

Links..
http://www.sequoia.national-park.com/info.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Grant_tree

Acacia Tree on the African savanna

2008-02-14T14:45:00.001-08:00

Under the Acacia Tree, originally uploaded by TangoPango.

The mounds that can be seen in this picture or terminte hills. the big cats are using this termite hill in front of the Acacia tree as a lookout to locate new prey. Notice the vulture up on top of the Acacia. This tree looks as if it has witnessed a good many scenes of preditor and prey.

The Great banyan tree - Indian Botanic Garden

2008-02-12T07:54:00.001-08:00

Great banyan tree, originally uploaded by YamezA.

The Great Banyan Tree, originally uploaded by Joe Gratz.

This tree is located in Kolkata (Calcutta) which is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal.

General Sherman - largest tree in the world

2008-02-11T07:10:00.001-08:00

General Sherman, originally uploaded by blueph0enix.

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree by volume in the world and one of the fastest growing. It belongs to the species Sequoiadendron giganteum.

The General Sherman Tree - Biggest Living thing on Earth!!, originally uploaded by ravisastry.

This sign reads…

GENERAL SHERMAN TREE
LARGEST LIVING THING ON EARTH

“The General Sherman Tree stands as the ultimate example of the growth potential of a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Other types of trees are taller, or thicker at the base, but not other living thing on this planet exceeds the volume of this giant sequoia. The General Sherman Tree owes its immense size not to great age (many other sequoias are older) but rather to its very rapid growth rate. For over two thousand years this tree has survived numerous fires, climatic change and even the coming of modern man. Today it remains not only the world’s largest living thing, but also one of the fastest growing.”

Estimated Age 2,300 – 2,700 years
Estimated Wight of trunk 1385 t. (1256 m.t. )
Height Above Base 274.9 ft (83.8 meters)
Circumference as Ground 102.6 ft. (31.3 meters)
Maximum diameter at base 36.5 ft. (11.1 meters)
Diameter 60 ft. above ground 17.5 ft (5.3 meters)
Diameter 180 ft. above ground 14.0 ft. (4.3 meters)
Diameter of largest branch 6.8 ft. (2.1 meters)
Height of First large branch 130 ft. (39.6 meters)
Volume of trunk 52,500 cu. ft. (1,486.6 cu.m.)

General Sherman Tree, originally uploaded by justinm.

Pamplemousses Botanical Garden tree

2008-02-08T01:36:00.001-08:00

187, originally uploaded by mhammond.highcliffe.

This large tree, estimated to be about 300 years old is located in the “Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden” more commonly known as the Pamplemousses botanical garden. The garden is a popular attraction near Port Louis in Mauritius It is reputed to be the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere. I do not know what kind of tree this is. If you know please leave a comment.

Ancient olive tree - garden of Gethsemane

2008-02-07T00:41:00.001-08:00

DSC04567-An ancient olive tree twisted and gnarled, originally uploaded by lyng883.

These are perhaps the world´s most famous Olive trees. The Garden of Gethsemane is located in Jerusalem at the base of the Mount of Olives. It was in this small grove of Olive trees that Jesus spent part of the night prior to his crucifixion. Gethsemane means "Olive press" in Hebrew.

Baobab tree prison

2008-02-06T06:53:00.001-08:00

Prison Baob, originally uploaded by yewenyi.

This Baobab tree in Western Australia has an opening on one side that leads into it hollowed out interior. It seems this tree and others like it have been used as prisons. This one has enough room to hold five prisoners.

Founders Tree - Humboldt California

2008-02-05T11:21:00.001-08:00

Founder's Tree, originally uploaded by stephentyrone.

This tree was named for the founders of the Save the Redwoods League. It is located in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Dyerville, Humboldt County, California.

Species - Coastal Redwood

Height 346 feet

Diameter 12.7 feet

Circumference 40 feet

Height to lowest limb 190.4 feet

Paying Respects, originally uploaded by bintibee.

Meiji Shrine wishing tree in Japan

2008-02-04T12:30:00.001-08:00

Sacred Camphor Tree at Meiji-Jingu Shrine, originally uploaded by Cloganese.

This is a sacred Camphor tree located at the Meiji shrine in Japan. In Japan sacred trees have thick ropes around their trunks. This sacred tree has a special wishing wall surrounding its trunk. The idea is to write a prayer or wish on a small wooden tablet and hang it on one of the pegs on this wall. The Shinto priests then pray for all of the wishes on the tablets.

big_old_other_tree, originally uploaded by Buddha Rhubarb.

Meiji Jingu Shrine Wish Tree, originally uploaded by Stephen Spencer.

Jomon Sugi tree - Largest Cedar in Japan

2008-02-01T11:14:00.001-08:00

Jomon Sugi, originally uploaded by Mil.

This large “Yakusugi Cedar” (Cryptomeria japonica) tree was located in 1996 and has since become quite famous. It is said to be the largest Cedar tree in Japan. It is 25 meters tall and estimated to be around 2,200 years old (some claim that it is much older). It is called “Jomon-sugi” (meaning Old Cedar) and is located in the Yakushima World Heritage Area.

Roots II, originally uploaded by antonioperezrio.es.

“In its vicinity, there remains a stump of which age is said to be oldest
by the islanders. They say the tree was cut in 1586 to be used for
construction of a big temple in Kyoto. The age of the tree when cut down
is estimated to be 3000 years.” from www.nyu.edu

The Cedars of Lebanon

2008-02-01T08:56:00.001-08:00

A cedar of Lebanon, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

Cedar Revolution, originally uploaded by i.embrace.

Cedars in Blue , originally uploaded by hazy jenius.

The picture below was taken in Lebanon in 1946

Believed to be in Public Domain From Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Collections.
More on copyright: What does "no known restrictions" mean?

Alishan Sacred Tree II - Taiwan

2008-01-30T23:44:00.001-08:00

so big, originally uploaded by dchou0123.

About nine years ago the largest and most revered tree in Taiwan - the "Alishan Sacred tree" - fell.

“To pass down the legacy of the now fallen Alishan Sacred Tree, the Forestry Bureau, Chiayi County Government, and the Tourism Bureau co-organized the “Balloting Campaign for Alishan Sacred Tree II,” through which this giant tree received most votes and was thus given the name ‘Alishan Sianglin Sacred Tree’ on January 1, 2007.”

Species: Taiwan Red Cypress
Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum

Circumference: 12.3m

Height: 45m

Age: About 2,300 years old

Triumph or Tragedy? - A felled Giant

2008-01-30T02:19:00.001-08:00

People and Horses on a Gigantic Redwood Log, originally uploaded by David C. Foster.

This is an old image of a felled Redwood tree that I do not know the history behind or the date. The image itself tells most of the story. About a hundred men, a few women and a team of horses posing with a recently felled giant redwood tree. If you look closely the horses are up on top of the felled tree!

I assume that the people in this picture have something to do with the felled tree. Perhaps they are all employees of the logging company that cut the tree down. They seem somewhat proud of their achievement. I wonder what was going through their minds as they watched one of the planets largest living monuments come crashing down? Judging from this picture it looks to me like this may have been one of the biggest trees of all time.

Does this picture tell a tale of man conquering nature or man destroying nature? Somehow I don´t think this is what God had in mind when he gave Adam and Eve (mankind) dominion over the world he created.

Ginkgo Avenue - Tokyo Japan

2008-01-27T07:50:00.001-08:00

Ginkgo Trees, originally uploaded by mrhayata.

In Tokyo, near Aoyama there is a street that is lined with large Ginkgo trees. Both sides of the sidewalk on both sides of the street are lined with these magestic trees making for a total of four rows of trees. When the trees are in their full autumn colors it makes for a very dramatic and enchanting scene.

ginkgo trees - at December 9, 2007, originally uploaded by naoK.

travel, originally uploaded by Mori Chan.

Octopus Tree at Cape Meares

2008-01-27T03:54:00.001-08:00

Octopus Tree, originally uploaded by Birdfreak.com.

This large and unique Sitka Spruce tree is located on the Oregen Coast at Cape Meares near the Cape Meares Lighthouse State scenic viewpoint. Rather that forming a single trunk this tree has grow forming multiple trunks in a "Candelabra" fashion with each of the individual trunks being pretty much equal in size. The reason tree formed this way is probable due to the strong coastal winds that may have damaged the tree when it was young and causing its branched to grow out as trunks.

A sign at the base of this tree reads...

Sitka Spruce

(Picea Sitchensis)

"This giant old, Sitka Spruce did not develop int a masive single trunked tree as most Spruce trees do along the Oregon Coast. The candelabra branching and unusual size of this Spruce tree were formed by strong coastal winds and the sheltered hollow of its location. Each of the six candelabra limbs are at least 12 feet around and extend horizontally from the main trunk as much as 30 feet before turning upward."

Baobab trees in a Hawaii park

2008-01-27T02:21:00.001-08:00

unknown tree #3909, originally uploaded by Nemo's great uncle.

This cluster of fat trunked trees is located in a Park, opposite Ala Moana Center, midway between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu in Hawaii. They are not however native Hawaiian trees! It turns out that they are Baobab trees! The Baobab tree is native to Africa and is usually seen in rather arid areas and with no leaves. It is said that these trees were a gift to one of the last monarchs of Hawaii.

I´ve heard of these trees being called the "Dead rat tree" for the look and shape of their fruit which some say looks like a dead rat hanging from the tree.

Ancient yew - St. Mary & St. Peter, Wilmington

2008-01-25T12:50:00.001-08:00

Ancient yew tree, originally uploaded by WordRidden.

Have you ever noticed that there seems to be a connection between old Yew trees and churches in England? Well, here is another example of an old Yew tree in the church yard of St. Mary & St. Peter´s in Wilmington. The tree is estimated to be over 1,600 years old, which means that it predates the church by a good many years.

Old oak tree at Rufford Hall

2008-01-25T10:29:00.001-08:00

THE old oak tree, originally uploaded by pojka2.

This old oak tree in it full autumn colors is located at Rufford Hall in Nottinghamshire. It is an English Oak (also called Pedunculate Oak) which is the species Quercus robur.

Champion Spruce tree split in half

2008-01-24T11:41:00.001-08:00

Kloochy Creek Spruce, originally uploaded by atul666.

The national co-champion Sitka Spruce tree split and broke off about 80ft off the ground in a recent storm (Dec. 2, 2007). At 204 feet tall it was the tallest Sitka Spruce in North America and a co-champion with the Sitka Spruce of the Quinault National Forest (see previous post). Located just of Hwy 26 between Portland and Seaside the giant tree was a popular attraction visited by more than 100,000 people each year. The tree had been weakening of late and forestry officials knew that it was coming to and end when a large section of the tree was knocked off in a storm revealing a rotted interior.

Largest Sitka Spruce in the USA, originally uploaded by ukslim.

Largest Sitka Spruce in the world

2008-01-23T14:11:00.001-08:00

DSC_0065_A, originally uploaded by Jessa B.C..

This champion Spruce tree is located in the Quinault rain forest in Washington State. It stands 191 feet tall. It is one of six champion trees that have as their home the Quinault rain forest.

World´s Larges Spruce, originally uploaded by jimmywayne22's photos

Large Holm Oak - Una Gran Encina

2008-01-23T13:01:00.001-08:00

Via Verde: Puerto Serrano - Olvera, originally uploaded by Grupo de Montaña PiedraLuenga.

This large Holm Oak (Encina in Spanish) is located along a popular mountain bike route that is in fact the trajectory of an old set of train tracks that has been converted into a "Via Verde" (a green path). This particular stretch runs from Puerto Serrano to Olvera. This large Holm oak makes for a nice resting area for the bikers.

Oldgrowth Juniper forest in SE Colorado

2008-01-22T14:22:00.001-08:00

Ancient Mesatop Sentinels, originally uploaded by Fort Photo.

Located atop a mesa near the Purgatory river in SE Colorado there is a forest of old growth Juniper trees that are twisted and gnarled with age creating a beautiful and striking ecosystem.

Oldest tree in Europe - The Fortingall Yew

2008-01-22T02:39:00.001-08:00

Fortingall Yew, originally uploaded by Caro's Lines.

This Yew tree in Scotland is believed to be around 5000 years old. It is not only the oldest tree but also the oldest living thing in Europe. It stands now behind a protective wall in the cemetary of a church.

Yew Tree, originally uploaded by cyocum.

The sign below reads...

Rooted in History

"Before you stands Europe´s - and possibly even the world´s oldest living thing. Under the dark veil of needles are two relic trunks of a huge, ancient yew tree. Scholars believe the roots of this great survivor coil back some 5000 years. The markers show you the size fo the original evergreen giant in 1769 when it had a girth of over 56 feet (17m). Sadly, it attracted souvenir hunters who removed large sections. Children then lit fires inside the hollow trunk and funeral
processions passed through its midst. Eventually, this wall had to be built to stop the tree disappearing altogether."

From Here to Eternity

"Before the arrival of Christianity, the yew was known as the "tree of eternity", and it´s easy to see why. At about 500 years old - long after most other trees have died - the yew starts to grow again. This "otherworldly" power meant early peoples revered the yew, and the tree marked their places of worship. Little wonder then that when early Christianity came to Fortingall in the
7th century they decided to build their new church next to the anciant yew."

Fortingall Yew Information, originally uploaded by Caro's Lines.

Bristlecone Pine in Bryce Canyon

2008-01-22T02:27:00.001-08:00

Bryce Canyon: Bristlecone Pine along Peekaboo Loop Trail, originally uploaded by Molas.

Looking at the eroding rock and the long living Bristlecone Pine one has to wonder who will outlive the other. Bristlecones are known to live more than 4000 years in the right conditions. What will this canyon look like in another 1000 or so years? You can already see how much of the tree roots have been exposed by the eroding canyon. This image was taken along Peekaboo Loop Trail

A big old gumtree

2008-01-21T08:10:00.001-08:00

Very Old Tree, originally uploaded by pinwheel.

This large Gum tree is located in the Christchurch botanical gardens in New Zealand.

Largest Spanish fir - "Pinsapo de la escalereta"

2008-01-20T04:05:00.001-08:00

Pinsapo de la escalereta (2), originally uploaded by Por los caminos de Málaga (2).

Not too far off the highway that leads form the "Costa del Sol" up to the old city of Ronda there is a large old Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo) that is called the "Pinsapo de la Escalereta". It is the largest of this rare fir species. The mountain range where the last remaining virgin forest can be found is called the "Sierra de las nieves" (Snow mountains). The area has been declared a biosphere reserve to protect the Spanish fir and its ecosystem.

Pinsapo-de-la-Escalereta, originally uploaded by Por los caminos de Málaga (2).

Sabina of "El Hierro" Island

2008-01-19T13:15:00.001-08:00

Sabina, originally uploaded by Ringo Fuentes.

This ancient Phoenicean Juniper is a famous tree on the Spanish island of "El Hierro" (name means Iron). The word Sabina is Spanish for Juniper. This tree is the most well known of many Juniper trees on the island that have been deformed by the constant wind. According to the locals there used to be large numbers of Junipers on the Island but because their wood was prized for making tables, stools, torches etc they were cut down and used until only the most deformed ones were left. These were not cut because their shape made them not very usable.

900 year old Pine tree in Italy

2008-01-19T12:39:00.001-08:00

il grande vecchio, originally uploaded by Stiphy.

This 900 year old tree is a "Loricato" or "Bosnian Pine" (Pinus leucodermis) located in the Pollino National Park in Italy. This national park is the last reserve of this rare tree species. I believe that this particular tree is known localy as "il grande vicchio".

Cannonball tree with fruit and flower

2008-01-19T12:19:00.001-08:00

Alien Tree, originally uploaded by 5cheherazad3.

The Cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis) is a very strange looking tree. Its trunk is covered with vine looking branches that wrap around the tree in a tangled web. Beautiful and exotic looking flowers grow on these branches. The fruit when it devolops have the shape of large balls the size of cannonball and thus the name.

Hayedo de Montejo - Ancient Beech Forest

2008-01-19T12:07:00.001-08:00

Hayas y robles en el hayedo de Montejo. Beech and oak trees in the Montejo beech wood., originally uploaded by Xosé Castro.

In Spanish the name of the Beech tree is "Haya" and the word "Hayedo" means Beech forest. Near the town of Montejo (about an hour drive north of Madrid) there is a famous "Hayedo" or Beech forest. Apart from the fact that it is a very beautiful forest in its own right with the feel of being enchanted in spring and autumn it´s main claim to fame is that it is the southernmost oldgrowth beech forest in Europe. They say that Beech trees used to grow much more extensively throughout Spain but that over the centuries the changing climate slowly drove them north. Farther north from Montejo it is not uncommon to find "Hayedos".

Olive Tree Sunrise

2008-01-18T15:04:00.001-08:00

Amanecer Tarrega, originally uploaded by eduardo.peiro.

Great Old Chestnut of Baamonde - Spain

2008-01-18T12:40:00.001-08:00

Castaño de Baamonde, originally uploaded by FreeCat.

In the town of Baamonde, Galicia (Spain) there is a very old Chestnut tree with a small chapel in its trunk!

Castaño de Baamonde, originally uploaded by FreeCat.

The hollow has been converted into a niche (a place where small statures of the Virgin Mary or other saints are kept) Inside there are several small statues carved from wood taken from the inside of this same tree. The carver was Victor Corral.

The Kam Tin Tree House

2008-01-17T14:52:00.001-08:00

Kam Tin Tree House - 2007-09-30 13h58m58s SN200785, originally uploaded by 惡龍~Stewart.

This picture gives all new meaning to the term tree house! Some say this tree was once a small Banyan tree planted beside a study hall. When the owner of the building left never to return the tree eventualy overgrew the structure with is aerial roots and trunks. The tree is now known as the Kam Tin Tree House.

Kam Tin Tree House - 2007-09-30 14h09m04s SN200813, originally uploaded by 惡龍~Stewart.

Below is another view where you can see the bricks from the original structure entangled in the web of roots.

Kam Tin Tree House - 2007-09-30 14h07m28s SN200811, originally uploaded by 惡龍~Stewart.

Cathedral Grove - Vancouver Island

2008-01-17T13:30:00.000-08:00

" Cathedral Grove is a rare and precious surviving stand of ancient Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata) located on Vancouver Island in the far western Canadian province of British Columbia (BC)." from www.cathedralgrove.se

Visit the Cathedralgrove.se website for more information (and some incredible images) on this old growth forest.

Douglas Fir in Cathedral Grove

2008-01-17T13:08:00.001-08:00

DSC01419, originally uploaded by Adnan Yahya.

This is a large Douglas Fir tree in the MacMillan Provincial Park, near Parksville (Vancouver Island, Canada). The tree has an estimated age of 800 years and is 76 meters (249 feet) tall. It is 9ft across at the base and has a circumference of nine meters (29.5 feet)

The Largest Tree, originally uploaded by alannavanisle.

Castaño Santo de Istan - Sacred Chestnut of Istan

2008-01-17T11:19:00.001-08:00

Castaño Santo in winter, originally uploaded by tree-species.

This is a very large Sweet Chestnut tree (Castanea Sativa) located up in the mountains above San Pedro de Alcantara in southern Spain. It is a rather difficult tree to find if you are not familiar with the area. There is a rough dirt road that starts at the backside of a golf course in San Pedro. Once you are on the right dirt road it is about an one hour of very slow driving (or hiking if you are up to it). The best way seems to be to go by Quad or dirt bike. About 20km up the dirt road you come to a sign and another dirt road where you turn left and go down about 200 yards to the tree following some signs. The Sacred Chestnut is in a stand of old growth trees that include some very large Oaks (most of which are Cork Oaks). The day I visited this tree I scared out a wild pig that was feeding on acorns under the Cork Oaks. The Sweet Chestnut is the tree that edible Chestnuts grow on.

The Duncan Cedar

2008-01-16T14:57:00.001-08:00

World's Largest Cedar, originally uploaded by Jesse The Traveler.

"In 1938 the Federal Government in Washington DC agreed, after a long bettering from conservationists, to carve out a national park 3000 miles away on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. This saved from the loggers four rain-swept river valleys, rich in old growth forests - the Bogachiel, the Hoh, the Queets, and the Quninalt. But, as so often happened in the Pacific north-west, on both sides of the Canadian-US border, the boundaries of the new park were deliberately designed to exclude much of the best old-growth forests.
The Nolan Creek cedar grew in the heart of an ancient forest west of the park. less than 30 years ago, loggers were licensed by the state to clear-fell the whole area. When the chainsaw reached this western read cedar (Thuja plicata) and people realized that it was the third largest red cedar in the world (it's 178 feet tall with a volume of 15,300 cubic feet) even the loggers' spirits failed. Generously they agreed to preserve this single tree - worth, they say, the huge sum of $25,000.
And there is stands today. If the loggers hoped the tree would show their hearts were in the right place, they knew little about trees. Of course the giant could not survive the fierce winds of the clearcut. First the mosses and lichens, then the tree itself, began to die. Now it is a bleached skeleton with few living branches. There is a message there, I am sure, that the public can not miss. How futile is it to make this mean sort of compromise, rather than saving the whole watershed . . . Imagine trying to preserve this king of the forest, when all his kingdom lies in ruin. Soon his bones, too, will lie at Nolan Creek."

-Thomas Pakenham
"Remarkable Trees of the World"

Large Old Cedar at Kalaloch, Washington

2008-01-16T14:22:00.001-08:00

DSC_0117_A, originally uploaded by Jessa B.C..

This very large gnarly, old Western Red Cedar is located near kalaloch, Washington in the Olympic National Forest. The tree is impresive both for its great size and for the "Ent" like look of its twisted and gnarled trunk.

This tree is known as the Kalaloch Cedar.

another view of this tree

The Kalaloch Cedar, originally uploaded by rachel_thecat.

The Kalaloch Cedar, just off Highway 101 in the Olympic National Park

A sign at this tree reads…

Big Cedar
“Western redcedar has been the art and sinew of coastal Indian village life. The trunk is house plank and ocean-going canoe; branches are harpoon line; outer bark is diaper and bandage; inner bark is basket, clothing and mattress. Tree size expresses climate – heavy annual rainfall, and the nourishing damp of ocean fog. In a scramble for growing space other tree species are using the cedar as a standing nurselog.”

another view

Big Cedar Tree, originally uploaded by vagrantant.

Hollow Tree in Stanley Park - Vancouver, BC

2008-01-16T13:08:00.001-08:00

**see below for new update (April 17, 2008)**

At the Hollow Tree, originally uploaded by AlmostJaded.

A sign by this tree reads…

“This now hollowed out stump with “nurse trees” growing from the crevices of its woody skeleton was once a thriving cedar tree. At one time its girth measured 18.3 meters (60 feet). In the early 1900´s this site was a very popular location for photographs either with horses & buggies backed into the hollow or those newfangled contraptions, automobiles!”

below is an old photograph of this same tree taken in 1897 by William Notman

Great Cedar Tree, originally uploaded by SqueakyMarmot.

**UPDATE - April 17, 2008**

I was able to visit this tree in March. The old hollow tree was damaged in a storm this last December and is hardly standing. It has a few cables keeping it from tipping over. The base has also deteriorated considerably making the hollowed out portion quite a bit smaller than in used to be. As of April 1st the Vancouver city council has voted to remove the old stump entirely. This tree has been in Stanley Park for about 1000 years.

Tree that General Grant planted in Tokyo

2008-01-16T06:13:00.001-08:00

Himalayan cedar, Tokyo, originally uploaded by Harry Vale.

Sign at the base of this tree reads...

KANJI KANJI KANJI

"General Grant the eighteenth president of the United States planted this Himalayan cedar when he visited Zojoji temple as a national guest in 1879."

tree species - Cedrus deodora

A giant among his peers

2008-01-14T14:37:00.001-08:00

Distractions, originally uploaded by bullish1974.

This is a very magestic tree captured in this image in a truly magestic setting! An inspiring tree.

Green trees on a French mountainside

2008-01-14T14:32:00.001-08:00

Alpine view, originally uploaded by slack12.

I like this image of trees on a French mountainside above Aussois because of how it captures so many different tones of green. So often when you see a picture of a forest all the trees are pretty much the same tone of green. This image has a very pleasant blend of greens that give the picture an almost 3D quality.

"Icarus Dream" - Tallest Eucalyptus regnans

2008-01-14T04:43:00.000-08:00

Source -
www.gianttrees.com.au

Species: Eucalyptus regnans

Location: Andromeda, Tasmania

Height: 97 metres (318 feet)

Diameter: 290 cm (9.5 feet)

Volume: 164 cubic metres

Tallest white gum tree - Tasmania

2008-01-13T04:15:00.001-08:00

measuring the basis of a 100 mt tall white gum tree - evercreech reserve, tasmania, originally uploaded by nicolas.boullosa.

A sign at the base of this tree reads…

“In the middle of Evercreech Forest Reserve lives the tallest white gum in the world standing 91 meters. The tree (Eucalyptus Viminalis) has shocked scientists from all over the over. They have refused to believe that this species could reach such a height. The tree was ans still is the pride of the Evercreech Forest Reserve. In the 1940´s and 50´s was the first reprieve of those trees as they couldn´t be extracted by bullock teams which were the common methods at those times. So the white gums were saved! The need for sawlogs in the 1970´s and the advent of bulldozers a road was built to the base of the big tree. Local forester Des Howe was carrying out a routine inspection of the logging operation when he realised the tree which was about to be felled was exceptionally tall. “Des, in fact, ordered its second reprieve, and a surveyor was called in to accurately measure the height o fthe tree and two others nearby”. It was an amazing process a shotkgus was used to collect seed capsules and bark. Leaves were taken to prove it was actually a white gum. Botanists had to be convinced by Forestry Commission that they were in fact Eucalyptus viminalis. The tallest tree was 91 meters to its tallest point which was well above any other limit of that species. After being confirmed it was considered the area should become a reservation. In 1977 52 hectares became a reserve. We believe this tree is more than three hundred years old!”

These trees are referred to localy as the "White Knights"

Japanese Sakura at Himeji Castle

2008-01-12T10:16:00.001-08:00

Himeji Castle Photoshopped, originally uploaded by show and tell.

For more than 1200 years there has been a tradition of "flower viewing" in Japan, often referred to as "Sakura" which means "Cherry Blossoms". Every year a great deal of attention is given to the prediction and tracking of the Cherry blossom "front" as the blossoming period moves steadily from south to north. As I recall there was quite a row this last year as several of the Meteorological Agencies were a few days off in their predictions. It seems that a lot of people plan their visits to Japan in order to be able to witness and celebrate the Sakura.

Chinese Dragon´s Paw tree

2008-01-12T10:06:00.001-08:00

Tree and Sky, originally uploaded by Keith Marshall.

The name "Dragon´s Paw" is what the locals call the tree. I do not know what species of tree this is or any alternative common name it might go by. I´d be interested to know if anyone has any information on this kind of tree.

Walk through Karri tree

2008-01-11T14:05:00.000-08:00

Image From Wikipedia (link)

This is the "Walk through Karri tree". Karri trees (Eucalyptus diversicolor) are one of the tallest tree species in the world and can grow to over 90 meters in hieght. These trees grow native in the Warren biogeographic region (Karri rainforest). The most well known specimen of this tree species is the Gloucester tree.

Tree climbed by one million people!

2008-01-11T13:59:00.001-08:00

climbing the gloucester tree, originally uploaded by badjonni.

The Gloucester tree in Western Australia is a 200+ foot (61m) tall three that people have been climbing since 1946 with the aid of a spiral peg stair system that was originaly set up so that as a watchtower for fires. This famous tree tourist attraction is a Karri(Eucalyptus diversicolor) tree.

South West Coast, originally uploaded by Phillie Casablanca.

Palm tree set against an old city wall

2008-01-11T08:59:00.001-08:00

Morocco colour 1, originally uploaded by Andrea Zani.

They say the simplicity is the essence of design. There is not really anything all that complicated or complex about this image. It is just a lone palm tree (Washingtonia robusta) standing beside the wall of an old medina in Rabat, Morocco. I think that the best tree images are when the tree´s surroundings act as the frame for the tree. In this case the old medina wall provides a great backdrop that greatly enhances the picture of the tree.

The Arrayanes forest of Argentina

2008-01-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

Arrayenes originaly uploaded by Konekotichy

The mystical fores of Arrayanes in Argentina. These rare trees (Luma apiculata) only grow in the Quetrihué Peninsula. This particular stand is of a small group that are more than 300 years old with a few individuals that may be as old as 600 years.

A tree from the Fellowship of the Ring flick

2008-01-10T13:34:00.001-08:00

Party Tree, originally uploaded by Captain Chaos.

This picture is from the private farm where "Hobbiton" from Peter Jackson's film "The Fellowship of the Ring" was filmed. The tree in this picture was in the party scene where Bilbo slips the ring on to disapear from the other Hobbits.

An Octopus tree in Sri Lanka

2008-01-10T13:09:00.001-08:00

tree limbs, originally uploaded by Reign.

I think I would give this tree the name "Octopus". It is quite amazing how far out the branches go in every direction. If you look closely at the ground it looks like the roots also snake out in every direction with a similar patturn to the branches. This tree is actually a Ficus Benjamina tree although it goes by the name "Giant Java Willow tree".

Survivor -An Acacia en the desert

2008-01-10T12:16:00.001-08:00

Akacia tree in the rocky Eastern desert, originally uploaded by Blind Höna.

There are a number of trees in the world that draw our attention not because they are so grand in and of themselves but rather for the fact that they have survived conditions that are not conducive to life. These lone trees survive because their roots go so deep that they reach the water table, in some cases up to 100 feet below ground.

A Moss laden Ceiba tree

2008-01-10T12:02:00.001-08:00

CEiba Arbol sagrado maya, originally uploaded by Alonso Fuentes Geldres.

I have a feeling that this is what a lot of rain forest trees would look like if you could see them standing alone without all the dense vegitation that usually surrounds them. I´ve heard that the Ceiba tree was sacred to the Mayan civilizations.

Tree of Life in Bahrain

2008-01-10T09:54:00.001-08:00

The famous Tree of Life, originally uploaded by solvo.

Tree roots and ruins

2008-01-10T07:37:00.001-08:00

Ta Prohm HDR, originally uploaded by Cap'n Surly.

I'm not sure what is more impressive the ancient ruins or the tangled web of tree roots.

The Rock Splitting Cherry Tree

2008-01-10T07:33:00.001-08:00

The Rock Splitting Cherry Tree, originally uploaded by ihorner.

It is quite amazing what tree roots can do. This 400 year old Cherry tree in Morioka, Japan is famous for the fact that it has split a large granite boulder in two with its roots.

Mediterranean coral tree

2008-01-08T13:27:00.001-08:00

Mediterranean coral tree (アメリカデイゴ) #3658, originally uploaded by Nemo's great uncle.

This flower does look a lot like a member of the Erythrina genus but I am not sure which species it is exactly. I can rule out Caffra, Crista-galli and lysestimon. At any rate the picture is beautiful.

An African Sausage tree

2008-01-08T13:17:00.001-08:00

Masai Mara - Arbre à saucisse, originally uploaded by gregouille.

This is a rather interesting tree species from Africa. The image is a bit out of focus but you can see the fruit of this tree from which it derives its name.

Brightly colored Maple trees

2008-01-08T13:10:00.001-08:00

Jolley's Ranch Road 2007, originally uploaded by MystifiedCat.

I am particularly fond of trees that turn color in the fall and Maple tree are some of the best for colorful displays.

One very Big Banyan Tree

2008-01-07T14:55:00.001-08:00

Big Banyan Tree, originally uploaded by rcasha.

According to some the world’s biggest banyan tree is located at Thimmamma Marimanu near Gooty in Andhra Pradesh, the second largest banyan tree is located at Botanical Gardens of Kolkata and the third largest is the Adyar tree at Chennai. The tree in this picture is the fourth largest banyan tree in India. It is located not too far from Bangalore.

Very large Mountain Ash stump

2008-01-07T14:46:00.001-08:00

Mountain Ash, originally uploaded by Denis Fox.

They say that the tallest trees in recorded history were some Mountain Ash trees (Eucalyptus Regnans) that were cut down in Australia over a century ago. The trees were measured after they were cut down and would have had a standing height of around 130 meters. The tallest trees living today are only 113 meters.

Tree ferns in a forest scene

2008-01-07T14:41:00.001-08:00

Velociraptors around the corner, originally uploaded by Walmink.

There is something about this picture that is captivating and a bit scary. With this kind of vegitation you never know what might be hiding among the ferns.

Quiver Tree in South Africa

2008-01-07T14:39:00.001-08:00

Quiver Tree Forest in Niewoudsville, originally uploaded by Martin_Heigan.

I have never seen one of these trees in person but they remind me quite a bit of the Dragon Blood tree (Draceana Draca) that is native to the Canary Islangs.

A big Illawara flame tree in full color

2008-01-07T14:35:00.001-08:00

Red Tree - Glenbrook Avenue, Clayton, originally uploaded by avlxyz.

This has to be one of the most spectacular images of a flame tree that I have seen yet! To start with the size of the tree is a lot bigger than most that I have seen. This tree is a Brachychiton Acerifolius, native to Australia.

A very wide base of an Aloe tree

2008-01-07T14:22:00.001-08:00

Tree Aloe Trunk (Aloe barberae), originally uploaded by Martin_Heigan.

Sort of reminds me of a giant foot!

Baobab tree with leaves!

2008-01-07T14:19:00.001-08:00

Bayobab tree, Adansonia digitata, originally uploaded by brian.gratwicke.

It is not very often that you see a Baobab tree picture with leaves on the tree. As far as I know Baobab trees only have leaves during a short rainy season. During this time the trees soak up water that they store in their swolen trunks. When the long dry season returns the trees drop their leaves.

Te Matua Ngahere - 2nd largest New Zealand tree

2008-01-06T05:40:00.001-08:00

Te Matua Ngahere, originally uploaded by Dunk the Funk.

This large Kauri tree (Agathis australis ) is reported to be the second largest tree in New Zealand. It's name "Te Matua Ngahere" means "Father of the Forest" in Mauri. It appears to be shorter and stouter than its neighber the Tane Mahuta tree.

Tane Mahuta - largest tree in New Zealand

2008-01-06T05:36:00.001-08:00

IMG_1031, originally uploaded by Trevor_MTB.

This great Kauri tree (Agathis australis) is reported to be the largest tree in New Zealand. It goes by the name "Tane Mahuta" which I believe means "God of the Forest" in the Maori language. The second largest tree in New Zealand is nearby and is called "Te Matua Ngahere" which means "Father of the Forest".

Tree with largest spread in the world

2008-01-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

Sai Ngam Banyan tree originaly uploaded by fantomdesigns

The Sai-ngam banyan tree in Thailand covers an estimated 15,000 square meters! It literaly covers the entire surface of the small island that it is located on in the middle of a lake. Although it may look like many trees growing together it is actually one tree with many stems that are formed when roots are dropped down from the branches. This is a typical feature of many Ficus genes trees.

Largest Diameter tree in the world

2008-01-05T16:20:00.001-08:00

Arbol del Tule, originally uploaded by ehecatzin.

The "Arbol del Tule", a Montezuma cypress, is claimed to be the tree with the largest diameter in the world. At 11.62 meters its diameter is greater than that of the largest Sequoia tree. The Tule tree is located in Oaxaca, Mexico and is claimed to locals to be the largest tree in the world (by volume and tonnage) although this claim is not scientificaly proven. None the less it is a very impressive tree!

Buttress roots of a Big tree

2008-01-05T11:44:00.001-08:00

Big tree 3, originally uploaded by allspice1.

This is an example of some very large buttress roots. I can't tell from the picture what kind of tree this is but there are a number of tropical tree species that have buttress roots like these.

Banyan tree at Haleakala National Park

2008-01-05T11:39:00.001-08:00

Maui - The Road to Hana - return journey, originally uploaded by Gypsy and The Fool.

An interesting feature of the Banyan tree is that it drops roots down from its branches that become additional trunks that serve to support the weight of the branches. This in turn allows the tree to spread out over a rather large area. There are several different species from the Ficus genus that are commonly called Banyan although the true Banyan tree is the Ficus benghalensis.

Old tree with vivid colors in a misty forest

2008-01-04T15:37:00.001-08:00

the guardian, originally uploaded by wildpianist.

This tree just by its age and form is an impressive sight. Add to that the mistical foggy background and the vivid colors of the moss and fallen leaves and you have a very enchanting picture indeed!

A big tree in San Francisco

2008-01-04T15:01:00.001-08:00

San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, originally uploaded by joebeone.

I like this tree for its great size and for the fact that it is in a location that allows for a full tree shot. Very often it is amost imposible to get this type of image of a large tree due to the fact that they normally grow in forests or in locations where there always seem to be obsticals in the way of the perfect shot. I would like to know what kind of tree this is. From a distance it looks like some kind of Cypress or Cedar.

Small Monkey Puzzle trees in the mountians

2008-01-04T14:55:00.001-08:00

Small Araucaria Trees | Volcán Lonquimay, originally uploaded by Feffef.

I don't know why these trees are called "Monkey Puzzle trees". Their scientific name is Araucaria araucana. The ones in this picture of from their native habitat in Chile. Because of their peculiar form they have been widely planted in gardens around the world.

Flame tree in full bloom - Brachychiton Acerifolius

2008-01-04T14:51:00.001-08:00

IMGP1421.JPG, originally uploaded by flagondry.

This native Australian tree is one of the more dramatic members of the Brachychiton familhy. As you can see from this picture it can be very dramatic when in bloom. In this case all the leaves have fallen just prior to blooming. This does not always occur though. I have seen many Flame trees keep most of their leaves while in bloom and with far fewer flowers. When the the flame tree flowers fall to the ground they totally cover the surface with little red bells that look like drops of blood.

Scenic shot of a large Bottle tree

2008-01-04T14:38:00.001-08:00

Bottle tree, originally uploaded by pierre pouliquin.

This is one of the best shots that I have seen of the Queensland Bottle tree (Brachychiton Rupestris). I especially like to see this tree in a natural setting rather than in a park for turists in in somebodies yard. This bottle tree also has a great shape unlike many of this species planted in areas where they only grow short and bulgy at the base. If you had to choose a bottle to go with this bottle tree it would have to be a two litre Coke bottle.

White bark tree in termite land

2008-01-03T15:47:00.000-08:00

Gum tree & termite mounds - originaly uploaded by - emblatame

Smooth white bark of some sort of gum tree contrasting with the rough, brown texture of terminte mounds. The form of the tree is elegant and graceful while the termite mounds are crude and clumsy. This tree is the queen of her environment. Perhaps this is fitting as she grows in Queensland.